Collapsible luggage scooter



April 18, 1967 D. M. WEITZNER 3,314,494

COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE SCOOTER Filed July 12, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 22INVENTOR 7 BY W4 A77Z7RNEX5'.

April 18, 1967 D. M. WEITZNER COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE SCOOTER 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed July 12, 1965 INVENTOR Darof/zea /7. Weilzner Ap 18, 1967 D. M.WEITZNER 3,314,494

COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE SCOOTER Filed July 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY gab?ZU'URN: :5.

United States Patent O 3,314,494 COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE SCOOTER Dorothea M.Weitzner, 8 E. 62nd St., New York, N.Y. 10021 Filed July 12, 1965, Ser.No. 471,355 9 Claims. (Cl. 180-27) This invention relates to collapsiblemotor scooters. Specifically, it relates to a collapsible luggagescooter that can be converted into a suitcase.

It is well known that luggage, such as suitcases and sea trunks canbecome burdensome when it is necessary to carry them over relativelylong distances.

This is especially burdensome to the salesmen who have to make numeroussales calls and therefore have to carry the samples over relatively longdistances in congested streets, or between the railroad trains and thelike.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a casewhich selectively can be carried by hand, mounted on wheels and towedalongside, provided with a platform which in a perpendicularrelationship extends from the suitcase, or converted into a motorizedluggage scooter having an attached platform for a person to stand on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a case of conventionalappearance which contains space for carrying articles and which furthercontains all the mechanical apparatus for quickly converting the caseinto a motorized luggage scooter.

Another object is to provide a case which is unfoldable to form amotorized scooter and which is instantly collapsible to form aconventional appearing suitcase.

Still another object is to provide a case, wherein the compartments areeasily accessible without interference of any scooter component andwherein scooter mechanism is readily accessible for servicing withoutinterfering with the article receiving compartments of the case.

Other objects are to provide a traveling scooter that is simple indesign, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to useand efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention set up as amotorized scooter.

FIG. 2 is a partially fragmentary side view of the present inventionshown partly in cross section, assembled for a scooter operation.

FIGv 3 is a partially fragmentary side view of the present invention asthe motor scooter is being collapsed into a suitcase.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention set up as a motorscooter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention appearing as asuitcase.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the handle bar means and the associatedcomponents, connected thereto.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a modified form of invention set up in itsexpanded form.

FIG. 8 is a modified form of invention shown in its collapsed form.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of invention in itsexpanded form.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention as inFIG. 9, wherein the platform means is retracted.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the modified view of the invention as shownin FIG. 9, wherein a platform means is turned away from the base of thesuitcase.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of invention whereinthe suitcase is provided with receptacles for the platform means.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a modified form of invention showing a recesson the side of the suitcase.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a modified form of the invention showing arecess on the bottom of the suitcase.

Referring now to the drawings 1 to 6 in detail, the numeral 10represents a traveling luggage scooter wherein there is a case orsuitcase 11. The case is generally of rectangular configuration and isbonded by a top wall 12, a front wall 13, rear wall 14, side walls 15and a bottom end 19.

The case 11 has a front opening 16 (see FIG. 2) which is used forstoring articles to be transported by the luggage scooter. Cover 18 isused to enclose the front opening 16. Cover 18 consists of front panel26, side panels 27 and top panel 28. Front panel 26 of the cover 18 isconnected to the front wall 13 of the case 11 by means of hinges 29. Thetop panel 28 and top wall 12 can be secured together by means of anysuitable locking device 30. On the top wall 12 there is handle bar means25 including a horizontally disposed handle bar 38, two L- shaped arms39 spaced from each other and being positioned in parallel. The topportions of arms 39 are connected to bar 38 near the end portions of bar38. Two clamp units 40 spaced from each other and fixedly mounted on thetop wall 12 of the case 11 are provided. Each of the arms 39 ispivotally connected and secured to each of the clamps 40 in the usualmanner. Each one of the end portions of the bars 38 is surrounded by aturnable sleeve 42 which sleeve is capable to control the traveling ofthis scooter. This will be explained later in the following paragraphs.

The rear Wall 14 of case 11 shows a rear opening 17, and on the top ofrear opening there is a vertically disposed panel 48 which featuresclutch and choke buttons, a turnable knob depicting variations of speedand stop means, and a gas inlet to the gas tank 34 one side of which islocated behind the control panel 48 and suitably mounted thereto. Thebottom of gas tank 34 is placed on a vertically disposed frame 33 whichis integrally connected with the previous mentioned control panel 48. Onthe other side of the frame 33 there is front wall 13 of case 11 withwhich frame 33 is integrally connected. The other side 35 of gas tank 34is shielded from the opening 16 by a metallic shield 35, one end ofwhich is connected with the top portion of the control panel 48, thebottom portion of shield 35 being connected with the upper surface offrame 33. This frame has a hole (not shown) I adapted to accommodate apipe 37 which connects gas tank 34 with carburetor 44 which, in turn, isconnected to engine 43 by means of another pipe 36. A gasoline drivenengine 43 provides the power means for driving the scooter and isconnected through its power shaft 45 to a pulley 46 of the wheels 21 bymeans of a pulley belt 47. Engine 43 is mounted on the inside of thefront Wall 13 by any suitable means (not shown) and carburetor 44 ismounted to the bottom part of the frame 33 by any acceptable means.

A lamp 49 is mounted centrally on the outer portion of the front wall 13of the case and is powered by a battery (not shown). One of the sides 15features a handle 31 which is pivotably mounted thereto. The bottom end19 of case 11 accommodates two wheels 21 which are positioned inparallel to each other and connected to each other in any suitablemanner. These wheels are capable of delivering various speeds for theluggage scooter in accordance with turning of a control sleeve 42havingmarkings FAST-SLOW inscribed therein. Sleeve 42 is directlyconnected to the throttle of the engine 43 by means of supply line 52thus causing wheels 21 to rotate in accordance with turning of FAST-SLOWsleeve 42.

At one side 24 of the bottom end 19 of the case 11 there is a hinge 29which connects the bottom end 19 with a platform which is adapted to bepositioned with the bottom end 19, i.e., closing the bottom end and thusforming a new bottom or when positioned in a perpendicular relationshipwith the rear wall 14 causing formation of a motorized luggage scooter.Platform 20 includes a top side 20a, front flange 20]), side flanges20c, rear flanges 20d and bottom side 20c. A caster Wheel 22 having aclamp 56 suitably connected thereto is suitably positioned and connectedto the bottom side 20e of the platform 20 by means of stub 56a. One sideof clamp 56 features a gear rack 55 which is adapted to meshingly engagea pinion 54 mounted on a flexible shaft 53. Thus when it is desired toturn the luggage scooter to right or left a control sleeve 42 of thehandle bar marked LEFT- RIGHT is turned. This causes turning of theflexible shaft 53 which in turn rotates pinion 54 causing turning of thepinion rack 56 and simultaneously caster wheel 22. Two parallel spacedrear or parking lights are mounted in the rear flange 20d of theplatform.

In a modified form of this invention as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a case57 includes upper portion 58 and lower portion 59 connected together bymeans of hinges 66. Like in the previous arrangement, platform 61 can bepositioned perpendicular by means of the hinge 65 to upper portion 53.Two linkages 62 are slidingly connected to each side of platform 61 bymeans of pins 63. Wheels 64 are connected to the bottom portions oflinkages 62. The upper portions of the linkages are suitably positionedwithin the upper portion 58 of the case. The upper portion 58 features ahandle 60. The lower portion has a suitably mounted caster wheel 67,which, in conjunction with the wheels 62, provides riding means for thecase and the platform.

When the case 57 is folded up, all wheels, the linkage and the platformare located within the case. Holding clip 63a is provided to hold theplatform 61 and linkage 62 in a vertical position and means 68a, 68bprovide a locking device.

Another modification of this invention shows a case 70 bounded by a topwall 71, a front wall 72, side walls 73 and bottom panel 74. A cover 75including top 76, front 78 and side 77 panels is shown. The cover 75 isconnected to the case 70 by hinges 76 and adapted to secure the cover 75and case 70 by means of suitable lock 7111. A flanged holding clip 80 ispivotably positioned on the bottom panel 74. A platform arrangement 81,which includes the wheels is adapted to slidingly move within the clip81.

A further modification shows a case 83 having a top wall 84, a frontwall 85, a rear wall 85a, side walls 86 and a bottom wall 86a. There isalso a cover 87 hingedly connected with the top wall 84. It should benoted that this arrangement provides for recess 91 located either in theside wall 86 or in the bottom wall 86a. Recess 91 can be adapted toaccommodate platform arrangement 88, which includes wheels, as shown inFIG. 12. There are also openings 89 to accommodate the wheels ofplatform arrangement 88 and secure the platform arrangement to the wall86 by means of screws 90.

While various changes may be made in detail construction, it isunderstood that such changes will be in the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A luggage scooter comprising a case bounded by a top wall, a frontwall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom end having an openingtherein, a handle bar means pivotally secured to the top wall of saidcase, said case having a front opening and a rear opening, wheel meanssecured to said bottom end, a platform means connected to one side ofsaid bottom end, steerable caster wheel means secured to said platformmeans, a cover hingedly mounted on an edge of said front wall andadapted to enclose said front opening, a panel tiltably secured at lowerportion of said rear wall, said platform means adapted to be positionedin a perpendicular relationship with said case, said panel capable ofbeing horizontally disposed upon said platform means when said platformmeans is in perpendicular relationship with said case and both saidwheel means of said case and said platform means are providing ridingmeans.

2. A luggage scooter comprising a case bounded by a top wall, a frontwall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom end having an openingtherein, a handle bar means pivotally secured to said top wall of saidcase, said case having a front opening and a rear opening, wheel meanssecured to said bottom end, a platform means connected to one side ofsaid bottom end, steerable caster wheel means secured to said platformmeans, a cover including front, side and top panels, hinge meansconnecting said cover with said front wall and enclosing said frontopening, thus providing storage means for various articles, lock meanscapable of securing said cover and said case together, carrying handleattached to one of said side walls of said case, a power means, a gastank, a frame means, one side of which shields said power means fromsaid storage means and the other side of said frame means beingperpendicular to said one side and provides mounting means for said gastank, shield means adapted to cover said gas tank and space said tankfrom said storage means, a panel tiltably secured at lower portion ofsaid rear wall, said platform means adapted to be positioned in aperpendicular relationship with said case, said panel capable of beinghorizontally disposed upon said platform means when said platform meansis in a perpendicular relationship with said case and said both wheelmeans of said case and of said platform means are adapted to provideriding means.

3. A luggage scooter comprising a case bounded by a top wall, a frontwall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom end having an openingtherein, a handle bar means pivotally secured to said top wall, saidcase having a front opening and a rear opening, wheel means secured tosaid bottom end, a platform means connected to one side of said bottomend, steerable caster wheel means secured to said platform means, acover including front, side and top panels, hinge means connecting saidcover with said front wall and enclosing said front opening thusproviding storage means for various articles, lock means mounted on saidtop panel of said cover and said top wall of said cover, said lock meanscapable of securing said cover and said case together, carrying handleattached to one of said walls of said case, a power means, including abattery, secured within said opening of said bottom end, a gas tankdisposed at lower end of said rear wall of said case, a frame means,central portion of which is horizontally disposed, for shielding saidstorage means from said power means, the other portion of said framemeans being perpendicularly disposed from said central portion of saidframe means and providing mounting means for said gas tank, shield meansfor said gas tank and spacing it from said storage means, a paneltiltably secured to the lower portion of said rear wall, said platformmeans adapted to be positioned in a perpendicular relationship with saidcase, said panel capable of being horizontally dispose-d upon saidplatform means when said platform means is in a perpendicularrelationship with said case, and said both wheel means of said case andof said platform means adapted to provide riding means.

4. A luggage scooter comprising a case bounded by a top wall, a frontwall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom end having an openingtherein, a pivotable handle bar means including a horizontally disposedhandle bar, two L-shaped arms spaced from each other in parallel andhaving their top portions fixedly connected with said bar near the endportions of said bar, two clamp units spaced from each other in paralleland fixedly mounted on said top Wall of said case, each of said armspivotally connected with each of said clamps, two turntable controlsleeves rotatably mounted on each of said end portions of said bar forcontrolling the traveling capabilities of said container with aplatform, said case having a front opening and a rear opening, wheelmeans secured to said bottom end, a platform means connected to one sideof said bottom end, steerable caster wheel means secured to saidplatform means, a cover including front, side and top panels, hingemeans connecting said cover with said front wall and enclosing saidfront opening thus providing storage means for various articles, lockmeans mounted on said top panel of said cover and said top wall of saidcase, said lock means capable of securing said cover and said casetogether, carrying handle attached to one of said walls of said case, apower means, including a battery, secured within said opening of saidbottom end, a gas tank disposed at lower end of said rear wall of saidcase, a frame means, central portion of which is horizontally disposed,for shielding said storage means from said power means, the otherportion of said frame means being perpendicularly disposed from saidcentral portion of said frame means and providing mounting means forsaid gas tank, shield means for said gas tank and spacing it from saidstorage means, a panel tiltably secured to the lower portion of saidrear 'wall, said platform means adapted to be positioned in aperpendicular relationship with said case, said panel capable of beinghorizontally disposed upon said platform means when said platform meansis in a perpendicular relationship with said case, and said both wheelmeans of said case and of said platform means adapted to provide ridingmeans.

5. A scooter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said power means includesan engine, a carburetor operatively connected with said engine, a motor.power shaft of said engine, a pulley belt, a pulley connected with saidshaft by means of pulley belt for turning said caster wheel of saidcase.

6. A scooter as set forth in claim '4, wherein the side opposite fromthe gas tank means of the perpendicular portion of said frame meansincludes control panel means having provisions for clutch and chokebuttons, a turntable control knob designating various speeds and a gasinlet pipe for said gas tank.

7. A scooter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said front wall of saidcase includes a head lamp powered by said battery and said platformmeans includes two parking lights powered by said battery.

8. A scooter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said handle bar includestwo turntable control sleeves rotatably mounted on said end portions ofsaid bar, one of said turnable sleeves adapted to transmit thedirectional turns to caster wheel means of said platform means, whereasthe other of said turnable sleeves is adapted to increase or decreasepower within said power means thus increasing or decreasing accelerationof said caster wheel means of said platform means.

9. A luggage scooter comprising a case bounded by a top wall, a frontwall, a rear wall, side walls and a bottom end having an openingtherein, a handle bar means pivotally secured to said top wall, saidcase having a front opening and a rear opening, wheel means secured tosaid bottom end, a platform means connected to one side of said bottomend, steerable caster wheel means secured to said platform means, acover including front, side and top panels, hinge means connecting saidcover with said front wall and enclosing said front opening thusproviding storage means for various articles, lock means mounted on saidtop panel of said cover and said top wall of said case, said lock meanscapable of securing said cover and said case matingly together, carryinghandle attached to one of said walls of said case, a power meansincluding a battery secured within said opening of said bottom end, agas tank means disposed at lower end of said rear wall of said case, aframe means, central portion of which is horizontally disposed forshielding said storage means from said power means, the other portion ofsaid frame means being perpendicularly disposed from said centralportion of said frame means and providing mounting means for said gastank, shield means for said gas tank and spacing it from said storagemeans, a panel tiltably secured to the lower portion of said rear wall,said platform means adapted to be positioned in a parallel relationshipwith said top wall of said case thus closing said bottom end of saidcasing, and said panel capable of being pivoted to a parallel positionwith said front wall of said case and said front panel of said cover,when said cover is in a closed position, thus closing said rear endopening of said case and covering said perpendicularly disposed framemeans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,172 2/1963Burwell 280278 3,100,020 8/ 1963 Sonntag 280-8104 X FOREIGN PATENTS627,314 5/1963 Belgium. 1,077,551 3/ 1960 Germany.

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner.

1. A LUGGAGE SCOOTER COMPRISING A CASE BOUNDED BY A TOP WALL, A FRONTWALL, A REAR WALL, SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM END HAVING AN OPENINGTHEREIN, A HANDLE BAR MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE TOP WALL OF SAIDCASE, SAID CASE HAVING A FRONT OPENING AND A REAR OPENING, WHEEL MEANSSECURED TO SAID BOTTOM END, A PLATFORM MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OFSAID BOTTOM END, STEERABLE CASTER WHEEL MEANS SECURED TO SAID PLATFORMMEANS, A COVER HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON AN EDGE OF SAID FRONT WALL ANDADAPTED TO ENCLOSE SAID FRONT OPENING, A PANEL TILTABLY SECURED AT LOWERPORTION OF SAID REAR WALL, SAID PLATFORM MEANS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONEDIN A PREPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CASE, SAID PANEL CAPABLE OFBEING HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED UPON SAID PLATFORM MEANS WHEN SAID PLATFORMMEANS IS IN PERPENDICULAR RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CASE AND BOTH SAIDWHEEL MEANS OF SAID CASE AND SAID PLATFORM MEANS ARE PROVIDING RIDINGMEANS.